Vehicle to assist walking

ABSTRACT

A vehicle which has a function to help a person walk and a function that a helper can move a person, comprises a frame ( 1 ) extending around a body of a user for supporting the body of the user when the user walks using the vehicle, wheels ( 7,9 ) mounted on the frame, and a seat plate ( 11 ) which can project from the generally lateral side of the user into an area where the legs of the waling user move. The seat plate is withdrawn from the area where the legs of the walking user move when the user walks using the vehicle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a vehicle to assist walking having a functionto help a person walk, and a function to help move a person.

BACKGROUND ART

A vehicle to assist walking for assisting a person with disabled legs towalk is known. Such a vehicle to assist walking is disclosed for examplein Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-39007. The vehicle toassist walking disclosed in this publication comprises an upper framewhich extends rearwards from the front side of the user to the lateralsides thereof, a lower frame which extends rearwards from the front sideof the user to the lateral sides thereof, and connecting frames whichconnect the upper and lower frames. Front wheels are mounted on thelower frame at the front area thereof, and rear wheels are mounted onthe upper frame at the rear area thereof. The user can stand within aspace surrounded by the upper and lower frames and walk while user'sbody is supported by the upper frame.

The user uses such a vehicle to assist walking to move to a destinationor for rehabilitation. During walking, the user may become exhausted andthus need to take a rest without using the user's legs even if the useruses the vehicle to assist walking since the user's legs are disabled.In this case, in consideration of the relief of the user during walking,it is preferable to be able to rest on the vehicle to assist walking. Inthe vehicle to assist walking disclosed in the above mentionedpublication, however, the user cannot rest without using the user'slegs.

Further, it is preferable to use the vehicle to assist walking as asupport for the body of the user when the user has arrived at adestination using the vehicle to assist walking. That is, it ispreferable that the vehicle to assist walking can be used as a supportfor the body of the user in addition to being used as a walkingassistant. For example, it is very convenient for the user to use thevehicle to assist walking to move to a restroom, and to use the vehicleto assist walking as a support for the body of the user when the userarrives at a restroom.

In view of these situations, a first object of the invention is to allowthe user to rest without using the user's legs when the user becomesexhausted when the user uses the vehicle to assist walking. Further, asecond object of the invention is to allow the user to use the vehicleto assist walking as a support for the body of the user when the userarrives at a restroom.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

To accomplish the first object, in the first invention, there isprovided a vehicle to assist walking having functions to help a personwalk, and for a helper to move a person, wherein the vehicle comprises aframe extending around the body of the user of the vehicle to supportthe body of the user when the user walks using the vehicle, wheelsmounted on the frame, and a seat plate which can project from around thelateral side of the user to an area where the legs of the walking usermove, and wherein the seat plate is removed from the area where the legsof the walking user move when the user walks using the vehicle.

In the second invention according to the first invention, the seat platecan be pivoted about a predetermined axis, and the seat plate isprojected to the area where the legs of the walking user move bypivoting the seat plate.

In the third invention according to the second invention, thepredetermined axis is a horizontal axis.

In the fourth invention according to the first invention, the seat platecomprises a pair of seat plate portions, and the seat plate portions canproject from each lateral side of the user to the area where the legs ofthe walking user move.

In the fifth invention according to the first invention, the seat platecan project from around the lateral and rear side of the user to thearea where the legs of the walking user move.

In the sixth invention according to the first invention, the level ofthe lowest portion of the frame which is located in front of the user ishigher than that of a seat of a stool, and the width between theportions of the frame which is located around the lateral and front sideof the user is larger than that of the stool.

In the seventh invention according to the sixth invention, the seatplate comprises a pair of seat plate portions, and the seat plateportions can project from each lateral side of the user to the areawhere the legs of the walking user move, and the level of the seat plateportions is higher than that of the seat of the stool and the seat plateportions form a space therebetween when the seat plate portions projectto the area where the legs of the walking user move.

To accomplish the second object, in the eighth invention, there isprovided a vehicle to assist walking for assisting a person to walk,comprising a frame extending around the body of the user of the vehicleto support the body of the user when the user walks using the vehicle,and wheels mounted on the frame, and wherein the level of the lowestportion of the frame which is located in front of the user is higherthan that of a seat of a stool, and wherein the width between theportions of the frame which is located around the lateral and front sideof the user is larger than that of the stool.

In the ninth invention according to the eighth invention, the seat platecomprises a pair of seat plate portions, and the seat plate portions canproject from each lateral side of the user to the area where the legs ofthe walking user move, and the level of the seat plate portions ishigher than that of the seat of the stool and the seat plate portionsform a space therebetween when the seat plate portions project to thearea where the legs of the walking user move.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a seat plate of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 3, of a seat plate of a secondembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 3, of a seat plate of a thirdembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 3, of a seat plate of a fourthembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 3, of a seat plate of a fifthembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 3, of a seat plate of a sixthembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 3, of a seat plate of a seventhembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 3, of a seat plate of an eighthembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 3, of a seat plate of a ninthembodiment;

FIG. 12 is a back view of a handle formed in a different manner from ahandle shown in FIG. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the below, the invention will be explained in detail with referenceto embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a side view of anembodiment of a vehicle to assist walking of the invention, and FIG. 2shows a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Note that, below,for the sake of convenience in the explanation, the right side in FIG. 1is referred to as “front”, the left side in FIG. 1 is referred to as“rear”, the upper side in FIG. 1 is referred to as “upper”, the lowerside in FIG. 1 is referred to as “lower”, and the left and right sidesin FIG. 2 are referred to as “lateral”. Further, in FIG. 2, the term“upper” refers to the upper side, and the term “lower” refers to thelower side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle of the embodiment comprises a frame 1which extends to surround the user. The frame 1 has an upper frame 2, alower frame 3, and connecting frames 4 for connecting the upper andlower frames 2 and 3.

The upper frame 2 is generally U-shaped and extends from the front areaof the vehicle toward the lateral rear sides thereof. The upper frame 2is constituted from a hollow pipe having a rectangular cross section. Ofcourse, the upper frame 2 may have any cross section, for example, acircular cross section other than the rectangular cross section. Elasticcushions 5 are mounted around a front portion 2 f of the upper frame 2,and portions 2 s (hereinafter referred to as upper frame lateralportions) which both extend in a longitudinal direction. Further,handles 6 are removably mounted on the rearmost portions of the upperframe lateral portions 2 s. Although the shown handles 6 extendvertically upwards, the handles 6 may be provided extending toward anydirection other than the vertical upward direction if necessary.

On the other hand, the lower frame 3 is generally U-shaped and extendsfrom the front area of the vehicle toward the lateral rear sidesthereof, similar to the upper frame 2, but the rear portions thereof arebent downwards and extend vertically downwards. In the followingexplanation, the portion which is horizontal relative to a surface of afloor and extends from the front area of the vehicle toward the lateralrear sides thereof is referred to as lower frame horizontal portion 3 h,and the portion which extends vertically downwards is referred to aslower frame vertical portion 3 v. Wheels 7, called free casters(hereinafter referred to as rear wheels), which can freely change theirmoving directions to any direction, are mounted on the lower ends of thelower frame vertical portions 3 v. Further, means 8 for fixing themoving direction of the rear wheels 7, if necessary, is mounted on thelower ends of the lower frame vertical portions 3 v. The movingdirection fixing means 8 is a frame member having U-shape and mounted onthe lower portions of the lower frame vertical portions 3 v so that themember can rotate about a predetermined horizontal axis Ah. When themember 8 rotates downwards, the rear wheel 7 is introduced into themember 8, and thus the moving direction of the rear wheel 7 is fixed,for example, at the longitudinal direction. The lower frame 3 isconstituted from a hollow pipe having a circular cross section, but maybe constituted from a hollow pipe having any cross section, for example,oval cross section other than the circular cross section.

The connecting frames 4 have upper portions (hereinafter referred to asconnecting frame upper portions) 4 u and lower portions (hereinafterreferred to as connecting frame lower portions) 4 l. Each of theseportions 4 u and 4 l is constituted from a hollow pipe having a circularcross section, but may be constituted from a hollow pipe having anycross section, for example, oval cross section other than the circularcross section. The upper ends of the connecting frame upper portions 4 uare connected to generally central portions of the upper frame lateralportions 2 s, and the connecting frame upper portions 4 u extenddownwards from the central portions of the upper frame lateral portions2 s where the upper ends of the connecting frame upper portions 4 u isconnected. The outer diameter of the connecting frame upper portion 4 uis smaller than the inner diameter of the connecting frame lower portion4 l, and thus the lower end of the connecting frame upper portion 4 u isinserted into the connecting frame lower portion 4 l. AS explained belowin detail, the connecting frame upper portions 4 u are slidably mountedon the connecting frame lower portions 4 l.

The connecting frame lower portions 4 l extend vertically downwards fromits upper ends, and are bent horizontally forwards near the surface ofthe floor. In the following explanation, the portions of the connectingframe lower portions 4 l which extend vertically downwards are referredto as vertical portions 4 lv, and the portions which extend horizontallyforwards are referred to as horizontal portions 4 lh. Wheels 9, calledfree casters (hereinafter referred to as front wheels), which can freelychange their moving directions to any direction, are mounted on thelower frontmost portions of the connecting frames 4 (that is, thefrontmost portions of the horizontal portions 4 lh of the connectingframe lower portions 4 l).

Screw type fasteners 10 are provided around the upper ends of theconnecting frame lower portions 4 l. When the fastener 10 is rotated andreleased, the connecting frame upper portion 4 u can be slid relative tothe connecting frame lower portion 4 l. On the other hand, when thefastener 10 is rotated and tightened, the connecting frame upper portion4 u is fastened relative to the connecting frame lower portion 4 l bythe end of the screw of the fastener 10. In this way, the connectingframe upper portion 4 u is positioned at a desired position relative tothe connecting frame lower portion 4 l, and thus the upper frame 2 ispositioned at a desired level from the floor.

The generally central portions of the lower frame horizontal portions 3h are connected to the vertical portions 4 lv of the connecting framelower portions 4 l. Therefore, the upper and lower frames 2 and 3 areconnected by the connecting frames 4.

As the portion where the lower and connecting frames 3 and 4 areconnected is referred to as frame connecting portion, a pair of left andright seat plate portions 11 p is mounted on the lower frame horizontalportions 3 h at the rear side of the frame connecting portions. Eachseat plate portion 11 p is mounted on the lower frame horizontal portion3 h so that the seat plate portion 11 p can pivot about the horizontalaxis extending in the longitudinal direction. Each seat plate portion 11p can pivot between a state where the seat plate portion extendsvertically upwards (hereinafter referred to as vertical state) and astate where the seat plate portion extends horizontally inwards(hereinafter referred to as horizontal state), and can be positioned andfixed in the vertical or horizontal state. As shown in FIG. 3, when thepair of the seat plate portions 11 p is positioned and fixed in thehorizontal state, a seat plate 11 of the vehicle is constituted by theseat plate portions 11 p. Note that the selection of the vertical orhorizontal state will be explained in detail below. Further, to alloweasy understanding of the seat plate portions, in FIG. 3, only the seatplate portions and the lower frame where the seat plate portions areconnected are shown.

A pair of left and right foot plates 12 is mounted on the front andlower portions of the connecting frames 4, that is, on the horizontalportion 4 lh of the connecting frame lower portion 4 l. Each foot plate12 is mounted on the horizontal portion 4 lh of the connecting framelower portion 4 l so that the foot plate can pivot about the horizontalaxis extending in the longitudinal direction. Each foot plate 12 canpivot between a state where the foot plate extends vertically upwards(hereinafter referred to as vertical state) and a state where the footplate extends horizontally inwards (hereinafter referred to ashorizontal state), and can be positioned and fixed in the vertical orhorizontal state. The selection of the vertical or horizontal state willbe explained in detail below.

The vehicle of the embodiment comprises means 13 for braking themovement of the vehicle. The braking means comprises a frame(hereinafter referred to as U-shaped frame) 13 u having generallyU-shape and extending from the front area of the vehicle to the lateralrear sides thereof, a pair of left and right bars (hereinafter referredto as vertical bars) 13 v each connected to the generally centralportion of the lateral portion of the U-shaped frame and extendingvertically downwards, members 18 g for slidably housing the verticalbars 13 v and guiding the slide movement of the vertical bars 13 v, andmembers (hereinafter referred to as grounding members) 13 m eachconnected to the lower end of the vertical bar 13 v. The rearmostportions of the U-shaped frame 13 u are pivotably mounted on the lateralportions of the lower frame horizontal portions 3 h. Further, the frontportion of the U-shaped frame 13 u is connected to the front portion ofthe lower frame horizontal portion 3 h via biasing means such as a coilspring 14. In addition, an engagement plate 15 is mounted on the frontportion of the lower frame horizontal portion 3 h, which plate 15engages the front portion of the U-shaped frame 13 u to maintain theU-shaped frame 13 u at an upper position.

When the front portion of the U-shaped frame 13 u is engaged with theengagement plate 15 against the biasing force of the spring 14, thegrounding members 13 m are maintained at a position raised upwards fromthe surface G of the floor. When the upper end of the engagement plate15 is withdrawn rearwards, and thus is bent, the front portion of theU-shaped frame 13 u is released from the engagement plate 15, and thusthe u-shaped frame 13 u is withdrawn downwards by the biasing force ofthe spring 14, and then the vertical bars 13 v are guided by the guidemeans 13 g and move downwards, and then the grounding members 13 mcontact the surface G of the floor. In this way, the vehicle is braked.According to this, the performance of braking the vehicle is high sincethe vehicle is braked simultaneously at both sides thereof. Further, thebraking means of this embodiment does not exert a braking force directlyto the front and rear wheels 9 and 7, so the vehicle can be braked usingthe braking means having relatively simple mechanism of the inventioneven if free casters are used as the front and rear wheels 9 and 7. Thatis, a mechanism more complicated than that of the braking means of theinvention is necessary to exert the braking force directly to the freecasters, but according to the invention, the vehicle can be braked by arelatively simple mechanism.

Advantages of the above explained vehicle will be explained in thebelow.

In the above explained vehicle, a person (hereinafter referred to asuser) using the vehicle can stand within a space surrounded by theupper, lower and connecting frames 2, 3 and 4, and can walk with thevehicle, leaning the user's body on the upper frame 2, or leaning theuser's hand on the upper frame 2. According to this, a user withdisabled legs can walk or be rehabilitated. Note that the seat plateportions 11 p are positioned in the vertical state when the user walksusing the vehicle. That is, when the user walks using the vehicle, theseat plate portions 11 p are removed from an area (hereinafter referredto as leg moving area) where the legs of the walking user move.According to this, the user can walk without being interrupted by theseat plate portions 11 p. Further, when the user becomes exhausted andwants to rest while the user walks using the vehicle, the seat plateportions 11 p are pivoted so that the seat plate portions 11 p projectinto the leg moving area and are positioned in the horizontal state. Inthis way, the user can rest by sitting on the seat plate 11 formed bythe seat plate portions 11 p.

Further, when the user walks using the vehicle, the foot plates 12 arepositioned in the vertical state. That is, the foot plates 12 areremoved from the leg moving area. According to this, the user can walkwithout being interrupted by the foot plates 12. When the user rests,sitting on the seat plate 11, the foot plates 12 are projected into theleg moving area and positioned at the horizontal state. In this way, theuser can rest, putting the user's feet on the foot plates 12.

Further, the vehicle of the invention has a function that a helper canmove or carry a person. That is, in an emergency when it is necessary tomove or carry a person who cannot walk by the user (hereinafter referredto as person in need of help) to the destination, a person (hereinafterreferred to as helper) who helps the person in need of help sits theperson in need of help on the seat plate of the vehicle, and then pushesor pulls the vehicle to move the same to carry the person in need ofhelp to the destination.

In the above explained vehicle, there is no object between the lowerfront ends of the horizontal portions of the connecting frame lowerportions 4 l which are spaced from each other. In addition, the widthbetween the horizontal portions of the connecting frame lower portions 4l is larger than that of a standard sitting type stool T (as shown bychain line in FIGS. 1 and 2; hereinafter only referred to as “stool”).Further, the level of the front portion 3 f of the lower framehorizontal portion 3 h is higher than that of the seat of the standardstool T. According to this, when the user enters into a restroom usingthe vehicle, the front portion of the lower frame horizontal portion 3 hcan pass over the seat of the stool T. In this way, the user can use thevehicle as a support in the restroom.

Further, in the above vehicle, the level of the seat plate portions 11p, when the seat plate portions 11 are projected into the leg movingarea to come into a horizontal state, is higher than the level of theseat of the standard stool T. According to this, the seat plate portionslip are maintained above the stool T. Further, as will be understoodwith reference to FIG. 3, a space is formed between the seat plateportions 11 p when the seat plate portions 11 p are projected into theleg moving area to come into the horizontal state. Therefore, the usercan use the vehicle, sitting on the seat plate 11 with the seat plateportions 11 p being maintained above the stool T.

Of course, the seat plate 11 may be formed at a low level. In this case,the seat plate portions 11 p may be mounted on an additional frame whichextends parallel to the lower frame horizontal portion 3 h and isconnected to the lower frame vertical portions 3 v and the verticalportion 4 lv of the connecting frame lower portions 4 l at the low areaof the lower frame horizontal portion 3 h, or which is mounted on thelower frame horizontal portion 3 h, depending thereon. According tothis, the surface of the seat can be formed near the surface G of thefloor.

Further, it is advantageous that the upper frame 2 can be easilyreplaced with an upper frame having a different shape. According tothis, the upper frame 2 having the optimum shape can be selected,depending on the shape of the body of the user, and can be connected tothe connecting frame 4, and then the user can use the vehicle.

Arrangements shown in FIGS. 4–11 can be employed as a seat plate havingadvantages similar to those explained above. In an embodiment shown inFIG. 4, a pair of seat plate portions 11 p is provided in front of theframe connecting portion between the lower frame 3 and the connectingframe 4 so that the seat plate portions 11 p can pivot about thehorizontal axis extending in the longitudinal direction. In anembodiment shown in FIG. 5, two pairs of seat plate portions 11 p areprovided at the rear of the frame connecting portion so that the seatplate portions 11 p can pivot about the horizontal axis extending in thelongitudinal direction. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a pair of seatplate portions 11 p is provided at the rear of the frame connectingportion so that the seat plate portions 11 p can pivot about thehorizontal axis extending in the longitudinal direction, but no space isformed between the seat plate portions 11 p when the seat plate portions11 p are positioned to extend horizontally inwards. In an embodimentshown in FIG. 7, a seat plate 11 is mounted on one of the horizontalportions of the lower frame 3 at the rear of the frame connectingportion so that the seat plate 11 can pivot about a horizontal axisextending in the longitudinal direction. In an embodiment shown in FIG.8, a pair of seat plate portions 11 p is provided in front of the frameconnecting portion and a pair of seat plate portions 11 p is provided atthe rear of the frame connecting portion so that the seat plate portionscan pivot about a horizontal axis extending in the longitudinaldirection.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a pair of seat plate portions 11 p isprovided at the rear of the frame connecting portion, but the seat plateportions 11 p are mounted on the horizontal portions of the lower frame3 so that the seat plate portions 11 p can pivot about a vertical axisv. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a pair of seat plate portions 11 pis provided at the rear of the frame connecting portion and is fixed onthe lower frame horizontal portion 3 h and the lower frame horizontalportion 3 h can pivot about a vertical axis V. In an embodiment shown inFIG. 11, a pair of seat plate portions 11 p is provided in front of theframe connecting portion but the seat plate portions 11 p are mounted onthe lower frame horizontal portions 3 h so that the seat plate portions11 p can pivot about a vertical axis v.

The handles 6 mounted on the upper frame lateral portions 2 s aresuitable for the user to grip when the user moves, facing rearwards,sitting on the seat plate 11. Further, the handles 6 may be formed sothat the handles can pivot horizontally inwards about a horizontal axisas shown in FIG. 12. According to this, the handles 6 are pivotedhorizontally inwards and then the user can use the handles as a backsupport when the user rests on the seat plate 11.

Further, the seat plate portions 11 p can be used as other than as theseat plate 11 for a rest. For example, the user sitting on the seatplate 11 can be rehabilitated by moving forwards with the user's legs.Further, the user can be rehabilitated by standing up from the seatplate 11 and sitting on the seat plate 11. Further, the seat plate 11can be used as a handrail when a person lying down moves to the vehicle.Further, the user can move toward a sink using the vehicle, and afterthe user arrives at the sink, the user can sit on the seat plate 11 whenthe user washes dishes.

Further, back seat plates may be mounted on the rear edges of the seatplate portions 11 a so that each back seat plate can pivot between thehorizontal and vertical states. In this case, when the back seat plateis in the horizontal state, the back seat plate is on the upper wallface of the corresponding seat plate portion 11 a, and on the otherhand, when the back seat plate is in the vertical state, the back seatplate extends upwards from the rear edge of the corresponding seat plateportions 11 a. When the back seat plates are in the vertical state, theback seat plates can be used as a back seat. Further, when the seatplate portions 11 a are used as the seat plate 11 with the back seatplate in the horizontal state, the level of the seat surface where theuser sits is higher than that of the seat surface when the seat plateportions 11 a are used as the seat plate 11 with the back seat platebeing in the vertical state.

Further, when a process for providing waterproof characteristics isapplied to the entire of the vehicle, the vehicle of the invention canbe used as a supporting device when the user takes a shower.

Further, aluminum can be used as a material for forming the frames, butthe user of the vehicle leans the user's weight on the frames when theuser walks, so the stability of the vehicle is high when the weight ofthe frames is relatively heavy, and therefore, in order to avoid a riskof user falling down, iron is preferable. Of course, any material forforming the frames can be employed depending on the necessity and, forexample, the frames may be formed of a plastic material.

1. A vehicle to assist walking having functions to help a person walk,and to allow a helper to move a person, wherein the vehicle comprises aframe extending around a body of a user of the vehicle to support thebody of the user when the user walks using the vehicle, wheels mountedon the frame, and a seat plate comprising a pair of seat plate portions,wherein the seat plate portions are projectable from each side of theuser to an area where legs of a walking user move, and wherein the seatplate portions are separably removed from the area where the legs of thewalking user move when the user walks using the vehicle.
 2. A vehicle toassist walking, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the seat plate ispivotable about a predetermined axis, and wherein the seat plate isprojected to the area where the legs of the walking user move bypivoting the seat plate.
 3. A vehicle to assist walking, as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the predetermined axis is a horizontal axis.
 4. Avehicle to assist walking, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the seatplate is projectable from around the lateral and rear side of the userto the area where the legs of the walking user move.
 5. A vehicle toassist walking, as set forth in claim 1, wherein both seat portions areattached to a lower frame of the vehicle.
 6. A vehicle to assist walkinghaving functions to help a person walk, and to allow a helper to move aperson, wherein the vehicle comprises a frame extending around a body ofa person of the vehicle to support the body of the person when theperson walks using the vehicle, wheels mounted on the frame, and a seatplate comprising a pair of seat plate portions, and wherein the seatplate portions is projectable from each side of the person to the areawhere legs of a walking person move, wherein the seat plate portions areremoved from the area where the legs of the walking person move when theperson walks using the vehicle, wherein the vehicle further comprisesmeans for braking movement of the vehicle, the braking means having atleast one braking frame biased downwardly by a spring, wherein when themovement of the vehicle should not be braked, the lower end of thebraking frame is moved upwardly against the biasing force of the springand is kept remote from and above the ground by engaging the brakingframe with an engagement plate, and wherein when the movement of thevehicle should be braked, the braking frame is disengaged from theengagement plate to move the braking frame downwardly by gravity and thebiasing force of the spring to contact the lower end of the brakingframe to the ground by gravity and the biasing force of the spring.
 7. Avehicle to assist walking having functions to help a person walk, and toallow a helper to move a person, wherein the vehicle comprises a frameextending around a body of the person of the vehicle to support the bodyof the person when the person walks using the vehicle, wheels mounted onthe frame, and a seat plate comprising a pair of seat plate portions,and wherein the seat plate portions is projectable from each side of theperson to the area where legs of a walking person move, wherein the seatplate portions are removed from the area where the legs of the walkingperson move when the person walks using the vehicle, wherein the vehiclefurther comprises, at its rear area, at least one vertically extendinghandle which a helper grasps when the helper moves a person by using thevehicle, and the handle is pivotable between a vertical position and ahorizontal position, and wherein when the handle extends horizontally,the handle extends behind the person of the vehicle so that the personcan use the handle as a backrest.